the problem is not so much coaching as it is product.
the pro league has a very poor product, and it's becoming very obvious that it's only the pro leaguers who's is making the commitment to rep the country. the euro based and the MLSers are all dodging playing in these friendlies, and for what i don't know.
hector is always injured, hyland is always carrying knocks, primus always injured, carlos always have prior commitments, this is the second time kenwyne jones wanted to be excused and keon daniel always have something to do, especially him, he needs to never ever get another national call up for dat shit he pulled in the semifinal rounds of the caribbean cup.
the only person i giving a bleigh is caryle mitchell, it seems that he's truly injured.
anyway we looked poor yesterday bc we had a poor product, no disrespect to the pro league players, but the league and the lack of youth development on the island is astonishing, especially since we are from a wealthy country who failed to invest in sports which in turn cheated you out of a better career.
JC, these statements become self prophesying. I don't believe they are accurate, yet they will be the ones that are commonly repeated by those who don't attend Pro League games.
The Pro League is a very long way from being perfect, but if its so poor, why do we keep seeing two Pro League teams qualifying for the Champions League?
As for youth development, once you can kill off Intercol you will see progression. I know that statement is like blasphemy here, but I'm trying to convince 16, 17 and 18 year old players to join Central instead of playing school football and its a nightmare. I can understand it if they're going to school for educational purposes, but they're not. Many don't even have to attend classes. Meanwhile, we have one boy who we can send on trial to UK and he's seriously considering staying at school, despite having no interest in education.
How can you properly develop 14 year olds when they suddenly decide that playing for the school takes priority and the school won't allow both?
Central fielded several 16 and 17 year olds this season and you'll see much more next season. Also, W.Connection have fielded boys as young as 15. I admit, we have to do more than just let them play football, what we need is a bespoke academy, you know a kind of "Centre of Excellence". Hmm, there's an idea!
I don't see the Romania defeat as a thrashing. 4-0 against a team over 40 places above you isn't an embarrassment. You'd expect Stoke City to beat Leyton Orient 4-0. Estonia will be a better test of where we stand. More than a 2-0 defeat would be a disaster, a draw would be nice and a victory would be a good, positive result.
The problem is not the players, it's the system they play (or rather, don't play) The ballers amongst us would know that you want to be comfortable when you have the ball. You don't want to search for an option, you instinctively know it's there. As a defender, if I'm facing my keeper I want to know that my left or right back has dropped to allow me to play the way I'm facing instead of turning into trouble. As a forward with my back to goal, I want to know that my A.M is running through so I can flick the ball onto him. I know where he wants the ball and he knows where I'm sending it.
This is why other teams appear much better. Whatever player they put in a position plays the same way the last guy did. So, instead of patching together a team and then giving them a system, we should develop a system and fit the round pegs into round holes, regardless of reputation.
England did this with Heskey, then Crouch. There were better, more accomplished players and most English supporters hated those two, but they delivered consistently and England played a successful system.
Maybe Brazil, Spain and Portugal can get by on flair and pure skill, but most need a system. Look at Germany and Italy. You can predict where the ball will go before it happens. That's how Denmark won the Euros in 82 (?). They couldn't even qualify and got through by default. Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Sweden. None of them excitement, but all would give Germany, Italy, France and England a good game and would probably beat T&T.
Now......the backlash!!